LINGUIST List 7.164

Thu Feb 1 1996

Qs: Yiddish, Self-translation, Conversation analysis, Inuit

Editor for this issue: Ann Dizdar <dizdartam2000.tamu.edu>

We'd like to remind readers that the responses to queries are usually
best posted to the individual asking the question. That individual is
then strongly encouraged to post a summary to the list. This policy was
instituted to help control the huge volume of mail on LINGUIST; so we
would appreciate your cooperating with it whenever it seems appropriate.

Being at the moment in a place where the relevant literature (if any)
is not available, does anyone out there know anything about the
possible etymology of the Yiddish deverbal suffix /-axts/, as in
/piSaxts/ 'urine' (cf. /piSn/ to 'piss'), /brexaxts/ 'vomit'
(/brexn/), /Spajaxts/ 'saliva' (/Spajen/ 'to spit')?
I'd also appreciate some information on the curious diminutive plural
/-ax/, which appears to have no Germanic source, and looks like a
Slavic locative, which would be weird. Any help appreciated.
Roger Lass
Roger Lass
Department of Linguistics
University of Cape Town
Rondebosch 7700/South Africa
Tel +(021) 650 3138 Fax +(021) 650 3726

Dear colleagues,
Have any of you done a self-translation from English into German or
know of anyone who has done so? If yes, I would like to have your
help.
I am currently working on my Ph.D. thesis, which deals with the
insights that can be gained for the translation process from the study
of self-translations of academic texts, i.e. linguistic,
philosophical, sociological, etc.; more specifically, articles that
were published in English and then translated by the author to appear
in German or to be read as a lecture in German. My main concern will
be self-translation from English into German, but I would also be
interested in looking at texts translated from German into English. I
would be very grateful for text samples in these two languages and
would be equally grateful for information on instances of
English-German self-translation among your colleagues and friends in
other academic fields.
Please send texts or information to me by email
jungvmail.rz.uni-duesseldorf.de
or snail-mail
Dipl. Uebers. Verena Jung
Heinrich-Heine Universitaet Duesseldorf
Anglistik III
Universitaetsstr. 1
40225 Duesseldorf
Germany
Looking forward to hearing from you
Verena Jung

This is the first time I have used The Linguist List, so I may as well
introduce myself. I am a research student at the University College of
Ripon and York St. John. Currently I am investigating the similarities
and dissimilarities between scripted and performed dialogue, and
spontaneously produced conversation, using a very broad Conversation
Analytic framework. I would be very grateful to receive any references
which might be helpful, and/or to hear from anyone engagedin similar
studies. My E.Mail address is j.cowperucrysj.ac.uk